B.A. in Communication
University of New Hampshire
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Guidance Counseling
Lesley University
lgilbert@esmprep.comTheodore Roosevelt
Leah is a New England native and has spent most of her life on the seacoast of New Hampshire. Leah attended Berwick Academy, a small private school in the quaint town of South Berwick, Maine. Following this, she went on to the University of New Hampshire, where she completed a degree in Communication with a minor in Classics. While attending UNH was ultimately a wonderful experience, Leah quickly realized she was unprepared for the move from the small community at Berwick to the overwhelming atmosphere at a large public university. This transitional year helped Leah to realize her desire to help others on their path to college. This led her to Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, where she completed a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus on School Guidance Counseling.
After graduation from Lesley, Leah began a career as a Guidance Counselor with a STEM focused charter school west of Boston. While there, she was able to work with a variety of students that were all looking for post secondary plans that would allow them to be happy and successful. Drawing from her internship, career, and life experiences, Leah has a strong understanding of the depth of need of the families she works with, as well as the challenges they face on a daily basis.
As National Client Services Manager, Leah spends much of her day connecting with new (and current!) families from both near and far to answer their questions about the college process and how we may fit into their plans. Understanding the needs of a family and then matching them with a mentor or counselor is one of the best parts of her day.
Outside of ESM, Leah enjoys spending time with her two children, and is always planning their next adventure. She is passionate about food (though not always about cooking it), and finding her next great read. Leah is the cofounder of a parent group in her town, and the work the group is doing to support families in the community is something she’s enormously proud of.